The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-18
SOCIETY At WASHINGTON
The Social Customs of the Nations Cap
ital Given by Mrs. John A. Logan.
When the President and His Family Receive
Why Washington Society Differs from
All 0tker-How 1t Is Belied.
Written for the sunday Journal.

and in all respects uninteresting is true At the
same time they in imp proper people.
but lack the polish and eegances of polite soc-
ety. Dame Fortune having suddenly snatched
them from obscurity and often adversely. they
unprepared for the transition. and hence are
not unfrequently the subjects of criticism and
amusement. Their blunders and uncouthness
subject them to the rldicule and, in some cases,
to the disgust of the refined and more fortunate.
And yet these instances are not as numerous as
can be found in the great commercial cities of
the country, where fortunes made if by
magicians wand. In no city in the Union can
there be gotten together many agreeable. in
telligent and distinguished people there can
be summoned any day In Washington. If a
celebrity visits this city unexpectedly, and
of its citizens desires to entertain him, either, at
dinner or by a reception. he can within few
hours command the presence of a charming and
edifying company Americans cosmopol-
itan that they ready for anything with
all the enthusiasm and good cheer of our inina-
liable people.
Persons who have travelled all the world
and mingled with the best and greatest of every
nation, and who have by education and observ-
alton become masters of the art of entertaining,
have found here the most congenial society.
From the ablest jurst to the obliging politi-
clan, and from the first lady of the land to the
debutaute in the social world, there is that ma
tive polteness and kindness of heart that under
lies all civilities in American society and secures
TO the worthy cordial greeting. Such well
comes beget poiteness in the recipient, and in
stances of boorishness very And
while official homes. from the Presidents down,
are periodically thrown open to the public. few
these thresholds who unwelcome
guests, or have presumed beyond their priv
ieges.
Diplomates from every country have at
time and another thrown open their houses
for receptions and other entertainments and I
think the complaints have been few that they
were ever iutruded upon by presumptuous peo-
pie. The English, Russian, Japanese. Chinese.
Spanish Mexican, and other ministers have
tertained q scale almost SURPRISING anything
attempted by our own people, in recognition of
the courtesies extended to them. At these
tertainments they rarely introduce the customs
of their own country but prefer to give them
much after the style of ours Hence, persons
seeking novelties doomed to disappointment.
Immediately after the assem- bling of Congress
the official calling begins. Every official, from the
Chief Justice down, must pay mis- respects to the
President. This courtesy is performed by call
ing and leaving the card at the executive man
sion, the President usually receiving the caller,
unless too much engaged The ladies OF these
officials must also call in person upon the pre-
siding mistress of the White House These calls
can be made any time but are usually made be-
tween the hours OF and p NJ, or at the hour
announced by the President and his family as
the time they will receive such calls. as has
been done in some instances. Once every fort
night during the season the President receives
in the evening, usually Tuesdays. The
ladies and their guests staying in the White
House formerly received every Saturday after
noon, lauterly every alternate Saturday.
The Senate, House, and other officials civil.
military and naval. with the ladies of their
households call on the members of the supreme
Court the Speaker of the House, and their fam
lilies The members of the House and the long
list of officials in the Congressional directory
must make the hrst call on the senators. the
Speaker of the House. the General of the Army
and their families. Members of the House. be-
ing next in rank, receive the fret call from all
other officials All these first calls must be re-
turned by the recipients, after which 1t is mat
ter of choice SIS to their repetition
But persons extending invitations to any kind
of An entertainment would not include the name
of any person who had not made the obligatory
first call Hence most persons are very pune
tilious about the discharge of the first duty.
On January the season IS lnaugurated by the
reception by the President and his family OF all
who desire to pay their respects Headed by
the diplomatic corps in full court dress, and
wearing all their medals of honor and orders.
such occasions always resplendent, and 1t IS
a sight worth journey to witness Passing In
the diplomatic corps. IN bnelr UTILIZING
dress and decorations, the Supreme Court. the
Senate and House. the army and navy, with all
their bright uniforms, brass buttons gold lace and
CAV feathers, present most imposing spectacle,
70 sav nothing of the ladies' who are always in at
tendance in their richest toilets From Io A NJ
till / o'clock the throng marches to the music OF
the Marine band through the wide doorways
across the corridor, through the he'd Room TO
the entrance to the Blue Room. where the Pres
ideut greets them, and they pass down the llue
of ladies who stand like Observation-Disclosures In
fairy tale, to add their greetings when familiar
face is recognized in the moving column that
must hurry on through the Green into the East
Room to give place TO the eager ones pressing
The homes of all officials and citizens are open
on this day, unless closed by mourning or some
" 80. he reason From New Years Day"
till Ash Wednesday society claims everybody.
The sackcloth and ashes of that day are hailed
with delight by many who. IN trying TO accept
al inyitations make all the calls and lose moth
ing of the gay calendar of the season, are on the
verge of physical ruin
While more moderation and less reckless ex-
nosure of ones health should be observed by
MANY of the votaries OF Washington society,
there is in all these eayeties inuch tnat Is oe-
lightful and that certainly TENDS TO cultivate a
shirt of harmony and good feeling. Extremes
meet and are delighted with eacn otner when
thew become acquainted Inc tame auo the
civ are edited by the brilliant and accomplished
whom they meet There Is an lntercnanee OF
opinions and customs, and the world particu-
1arl,- the noIitical part of it, IS oettered. An
tagonisms fade away and the refinements of civ
ilization take the place of the barbara arena OF
the olden time. for mankind must De entertained.
Still it is rather incomprehenslbie to one who
has snent many years at the national capital
~ ihers is such an interest manifested in the
social feature of Washington
G,can only be attributed the fact that here
representatives from every nation and from
every State in the Union are thrown together
o6c;allv and socially. Sturdy old England,
Oriental China and Japan. fashionable France,
nihilistic Russia, imperial Germany, classic
Prussia, ilI-fated but artistic Italy, ancient
Greece revolutionary Mexico and South
America and all the lesser kingdoms of Europe
have their representatives at the capital of our
great Republic. and each IS supposed to bring
Win them something OF the manners and Gus
toms of their native lands
Nav England. with her puritanical ideas of
nron-ietv: the Southern States with their State
pr;de. the Northern States with their aggressive
and progressive tendencies; the West with their
oenerous-he liberal-minded broad-idead
Shirt. the middle States with their thrift and
ss.l.a.nrisinn notions of political economY-pre-